Pike

The pike is a predatory fish at the top of the food chain. This means that it doesn’t have many natural enemies. Instead, it is a skilled hunter with good eyesight that can see well even in murky water. Thanks to its flat, evenly thick body, it can quickly reach high speeds and catch its prey, which it bites with its sharp teeth. It eats small fish, frogs, birds, and small mammals.

The pike thrives in both fresh and brackish water, where it hides in the vegetation and waits for its prey. When it lies still, close to the surface, it is also exposed to danger. Birds of prey such as sea eagles and ospreys can spot it and strike!

In Sweden, we don’t eat much pike, but in other countries it is a popular food fish. We have been exporting pike since the Middle Ages. Since it doesn’t have many enemies, it can live to a ripe old age and grow very large. It can reach up to 1.5 meters in length and weigh over 25 kilograms.